ABSTRACT
There is no doubt that a well-formulated sports drink is better than water for rehydration following exercise. The sodium content of sports drinks helps to reduce urine formation and stimulate fluid consumption compared with water. Both of these factors assist in the maintenance of hydration status. Plain water is undoubtedly emptied from the stomach faster than many sports drinks; however, overall water absorption is faster from a properly formulated sports drink because of the carbohydrate component. Although many individuals assert that they drink large volumes of plain water daily, studies have shown that the actual volumes consumed are far less than people indicate. This is probably due to the lack of flavoring of plain water and to the thirst-quenching properties of water.
